How a music teacher can make all the difference

How a music teacher can make all the difference

The seed for my passion of music and the arts was unknowingly planted in me when I was in eighth grade. We spent the year raising money to go on a trip to Washington, D.C., and part of that included putting on a musical performance. That was my first taste of the performing arts and little did I know it wouldn’t be my last. Come fall of that year, I ended up going to Southwestern Randolph High School, where I met Mrs. Gwen Hall, the choral director for the school, and my life would be forever changed.

Now the reason I start with this story is because Mrs. Hall, who had a major impact on my life, is retiring this year from a lifetime of education. It’s been a career that has spanned more than 26 years, 22 of which have been at Southwestern. In her time there, she has used her vast knowledge of all things music to uplift, enlighten and expand the cultural lives of many of the students in the county, shaping them for the future. She has directed numerous plays, several that I had the honor to be a part of, and has published several songs.

I remember the first time I met Mrs. Hall. My cousin had taken me to sign up for classes. I was starting as a freshman a week late in a school where I knew no one. I came to Southwestern after suffering some personal tragedy and had to move. I was scared beyond belief, and when the guidance counselor asked what kind of elective activity I would enjoy, the only thing I knew to say was “music and performing.” So he proceeded to take me to the music room where, of course, Mrs. Hall would be. She played some notes to check my vocal range, and before I knew it, I was signed up for chorus.

Over the following year, her class brought so much out of me, giving hopeful life to a kid who didn’t know how much life there was to live. I learned about so many different types of music and sang some beautiful songs. It was also that year I performed in my first play, “The Crucible,” because Mrs. Hall gave me the courage to do so. I really grew as a person that first year and that’s mostly due to her class. For the next three years of high school, I signed up for chorus every semester as well as drama. I didn’t want to miss a moment of her class!

Here’s the thing about her class: You signed on to learn about music, but by the end, you came out learning about so much more. We learned about what honor, dignity and integrity were — the things that we really needed to be better human beings. These were lessons that no other class was teaching. Of course, they were often accompanied by Mrs. Hall being a crying mess, but that was because she cared about us. And for that, we all loved her. Still do. I can honestly say that I am a better person today because I had taken her classes and any other student that was paying attention is, too.

Now I say to Mrs. Hall, thank you for allowing me to spend four awesome years as a part of your legacy in teaching. You have been and shall always be a light in this world that continues to shine in those you have taught. May your next chapter in life be as bold, loving and endearing as the past 26 years have been to the world around you.